BOOK THE FOURTH

6. Chapter VI

A REUNION OF DIFFERENT ACTORS. STREAMS THAT FLOWED APPARENTLY APART RUSH
INTO ONE GULF.

IMPATIENT to learn whether the fell drug had yet been administered by Julia
to his hated rival, and with what effect, Arbaces resolved, as the evening
came on, to seek her house, and satisfy his suspense. It was customary, as I
have before said, for men at that time to carry abroad with them the tablets
and the stilus attached to their girdle; and with the girdle they were put
off when at home. In fact, under the appearance of a literary instrument,
the Romans carried about with them in that same stilus a very sharp and
formidable weapon. It was with his stilus that Cassius stabbed Caesar in
the senate-house. Taking, then, his girdle and his cloak, Arbaces left his
house, supporting his steps, which were still somewhat feeble (though hope
and vengeance had conspired greatly with his own medical science, which was
profound, to restore his natural strength), by his long staff--Arbaces took
his way to the villa of Diomed.

And beautiful is the moonlight of the south! In those climes the night so
quickly glides into the day, that twilight scarcely makes a bridge between
them. One moment of darker purple in the sky--of a thousand rose-hues in
the water--of shade half victorious over light; and then burst forth at once
the countless stars--the moon is up--night has resumed her reign!

Brightly then, and softly bright, fell the moonbeams over the antique grove
consecrated to Cybele--the stately trees, whose date went beyond tradition,
cast their long shadows over the soil, while through the openings in their
boughs the stars shone, still and frequent. The whiteness of the small
sacellum in the centre of the grove, amidst the dark foliage, had in it
something abrupt and startling; it recalled at once the purpose to which the
wood was consecrated--its holiness and solemnity.

With a swift and stealthy pace, Calenus, gliding under the shade of the
trees, reached the chapel, and gently putting back the boughs that
completely closed around its rear, settled himself in his concealment; a
concealment so complete, what with the fane in front and the trees behind,
that no unsuspicious passenger could possibly have detected him. Again, all
was apparently solitary in the grove: afar off you heard faintly the voices
of some noisy revellers or the music that played cheerily to the groups that
then, as now in those climates, during the nights of summer, lingered in the
streets, and enjoyed, in the fresh air and the liquid moonlight, a milder
day.